Soloing Secrets - Allan Holdsworth

Hey everyone! Here's the next episode of Soloing Secrets with a HUGE one - Allan Holdsworth! I've had a number of requests to feature more of Allan's playing on the LNL channel, and this in-depth look into his playing style will surely challenge your ability, twist a few techniques, and stretch a few fingers out there - so let's dive in!
This lesson revolves around Allan's playing on the historic/classic 1975 progressive funk-fusion album 'Believe It' from The New Tony Williams Lifetime. This seminal album features a young and fiery Holdsworth in action and is one of my favorite recordings/eras of his outstanding career.
The ideas shared here include the interesting ways that Allan would begin the opening section of a solo. Instead of whipping out a crazy lick or just mindlessly shredding at the beginning of a solo, Allan typically eased into his solos and began slowly by introducing a few eerie-sounding melodies, haunting phrases, or melodic sonic bliss. From smooth intervallic and melodic lines to bar-dipped notes and swirling vibrato bar movements throughout, Allan's style in the mid-1970s is quite different compared to the music/ideas that came later, but without question - Allan Holdsworth's music is interesting and inspiring no matter what period/era you examine.
Needless to say, if you're an Allan Holdsworth fan, a rock/metal/jazz/fusion player, looking for something challenging/different to practice, or maybe you're just curious about what all of the fuss is about - this episode is totally for you! Give this episode a view, leave some comments/feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!
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[@NicknLex]

Definitely my all time favorite guitar player ever! After 15 years of listening to him I still hear new new things I never had picked up before. Definitely a Guitar players dream musician.

[@just.some.dud3]

Allan is absolutely a legend and my favorite guitarist, thanks for this David!

[@binkywarren21]

Let's just be honest: Holdsworth was an alien. 😂

[@briannorman952]

I honestly think he was completely unique there was or still Isn’t anyone at that level

[@markrobinson8410]

I saw Allan twice at carvin so glad i did.

[@Ghost_BC]

Allan was an alien. Fantastic!

[@gordoncrmn]

Seen allen on the blues for Tony tour and actually roadied for him . Best moment of my life . What an awesome guy and one of the best guitar players to walk the planet. Push comes to shove is a great evh influenced solo . I have to say I really give you props dave for figuring out anything allan does. I know it can't be easy but you do it with class

[@Volosic]

7:48 lick 1 / a 8:30 / b 9:22 / c 10:07 lick 2, snake oil, w/bar 11:18 11:46 13:20 chords, fred 13:35 lick 3, fred, w/bar 14:01 14:36 15:35 chords, proto-cosmos 15:40 lick 4, proto-cosmos, w/bar 16:09 16:56 17:30 riff, red alert 17:44 lick 5, red alert, w/bar 18:12 19:25 chords, wildlife 19:51 lick 6, wildlife, w/bar 20:32 21:22 chords, mr.spock 21:35 lick 7, mr.spock, w/bar

[@MrThomas1958]

Allan Holdsworth - the greatest ❤

[@RICCARDOREARDON]

I ABSOLUTELY.. POSITIVELY. LOVE.. ABSOLUTELY LOVE ❤️ 😍 💖 YOUR PLAYING..YOU ARE EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE..

[@robertingle9845]

The phrasing reminds me of Chris Poland.

[@hollywoodjakespeed8354]

Effing fantastic!!!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@stevenadler3110]

It’s XYZ time!! Marc Diglio. Don’t think I have to say anymore.

[@deus_ex_felis]

YES!

[@caseycarey5445]

Off to the sun

[@slapwagon]

HH Boogie

[@suzannecoholic1467]

Jeepers!! Holdsworth and Beck were the guitar legends I grew up hearing. They were 'untouchable' and nobody knew just how these lines and solos were played, and most (including me) were far too young and too intimidated to even try. This was a very good choice of album upon which to base this "Secrets" lesson. I definitely hear the horn influence in his playing now that you demonstrate what was going on. Thanks Dave!

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@kenfixes2908]

Wow, well done! So glad you did this. Love Allan. Thanks!

[@uncleremus5046]

Most lyrical guitar playing ever. Holdsworth set a bar so high with his amazing playing. Check his Soft Machine work also. Ty 🍺’ski

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@tel5690]

Holdsworth is my guy....why I use guitar synth occasionally....his chords are amazing

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

I didn't get the Holdsworth influence on Lifeson until you played these examples and now I'm listening a concert from 1976. And these are all some of my favorite musicians. But listening to it now, I can really hear why Alex's solo style changed so much on my favorite Rush albums: _Permanent Waves_ and _ Hemispheres._ Now I can easily imagine Alex seeing Alan in concert with Tony in 1976 and it all makes sense. Turns out I was influenced by Alan via Alex first.

[@Krullmatic]

Alright! Got the Strat going, and tackling Holdsworth! You have some big brass cajones!😂 Edit: I definitely can hear Vai's influence. Especially with the wild chord progressions, and phrasing.

[@michaeleaster1815]

3:59 I read an interview with EVH from 1983-ish and he said, of the tapping copycats, that he wanted to be "as weird as possible" (to break from the crowd), and I think Holdsworth was a model. If we look past the party tunes on 1984, the deep cuts have some crazy stuff: I think (?) a direct, glorious influence from Holdsworth.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@bmac5085]

Fair play for having a go at this.👍

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@bmac5085]

@@Ashanath-Music got that. Thanks 👍

[@zipcheckcheck]

...."and it sounds something like this" means DB is going to nail it.

[@Jasonfurrofficial]

Great lesson as always, Dave! Me being a theory guy, I tried to grasp some of his processes early in my fusion playing and fell flat. I applaud you for tackling some of this material. Proto Cosmos is one of my favorites! Greg Howe did a great version with Dennis Chambers and Victor Wooton so check it out! Keep it it up!

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@pobinr]

Really authentic nuance there from. Makes me realise I need it work on my trem bar more. A big part of Allan's sound in that era

[@kingbrutusxxvi]

Dang, Dave! I don't know if you're hooked up to a Red Bull I.V. but you've been busting out the posts lately. Definitely loving it. Cheers.

[@tallpaul1020]

The man from another Planet. Incredible lesson Dave. Thx for constant excellence. Keep up the great work 🎸👍

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@johnmccullim]

You are a brave brave man tackling Holdsworth! Well done.

[@Ashanath-Music]

Tackle that shit, and get inspired 🎉❤🎉

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@BladeHudson]

I peeped the VH reference to Alan before you even said it, I KNEW you was gonna mention it...Eddie was definitely influenced by Alan once Ed was listening to him (the infamous Baked Potatoe gig made it on KZbin) Lukather was there, he raves about that night.

[@vinarino9425]

Awesome and great AH tone! Proto Cosmos: I believe Williams plays in both 4 & 6 simultaneously (Polyrhythms)! John McLaughlin was slated to play on Lifetime, but when Mr. Williams heard Holdsworth, McLaughlin was dropped. Much can be gleaned via the AH book, "Reaching for the Uncommon Chord" also wherein Neil Schon, Santana, plus EVH pay homage to AH.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@michaeleaster1815]

7:48 Perhaps I'm taking the influence on EVH too far, but I hear the break to Meanstreet here... thanks for the lesson!

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@CarloRegadasGuitar]

Yngwie always gave Allan respect too.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@armonepie7722]

Many people forget that Allan was influenced by violinists within his lyrical development. You can hear that on UK first album and Jean Luc Ponty's Enigmatic Ocean to prove my point. Awesome Lesson Guitar Ace!

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@simonmurray8220]

Great lesson on a quintessential album.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@MikeyBakerMusic]

Just awesome. Thank You!

[@alanphil]

Excellent! Great idea to focus on one early recording. Interesting to see similar harmonic concepts between the tracks on this album.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@GBsdclf01]

Thanks for getting me onto this album. Cool stuff!

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@gurusuryan]

You rule! Thank you sir!

[@tomeksikora8920]

Great lesson, well done. Thanks!

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@tomeksikora8920]

@@Ashanath-Music huh?

[@ozbizbozzle]

Now look up Ollie Halsall. Was in Tempest with Allan briefly. Allan was jazz rock. Ollie was rock jazz. Both used white SGs. Both legato kings and the first at it. Check out solo on Give it all away by Patto.

[@scottmartin5492]

Big influence on XTC's Andy Partridge, who BTW would be an interesting "Chords of..." subject.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@1macirone]

Great lesson David!

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@davidmolina3520]

Saw Holdsworth in 78 with U.K. , opening band was The British Lions, headlining was UFO.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@kleberveridianogoncalvesde6293]

Thank you !

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@andymottram7010]

Great lesson 👍🏼

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@howardcox2918]

I kinda hear where EVH got the solo from Drop Dead Legs in your Snake Oil tutorial

[@lex.cordis]

Dude, you nailed the tone!! How do you achieve that sound? Amazing.

[@davidsmith6976]

Alan was a unique person,yet still down to Earth,liked his real ale [had some kind of invention used with it ,which never took off] Went under the radar,but those in the know [Vai,EVH,and many others knew what a maverick ,he was.PEACE.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@ic_1234]

which amp are you using here? sounds great

[@genevai2893]

can we now have a crazy 20 min soloing secrets ? of insane licks?

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@KGBrennan-mp8wd]

You forgot UK...

[@rickd1201]

I think it helps to start having footlong fingers.😅

[@ericwalter4771]

Make a video on Olie Halsall, the other guy from Tempest. I think he could have been better than Holdsworth.

[@KarlKarsnark]

Here's a great 5 HOUR long lesson, breakdown of Allan's techniques and arranging: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZmvaoVop5WBb7s He does a great job of demystifying Allan's approach, which is actually way less complex than it sounds. Mostly just Major Scales/Symmetrical Patterns/3 Note-per-string stuff done a million different ways. No where near as "complex"/overly analyzed as the geeks would have you believe.

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@backtoshallabal6662]

EVH was so inpired by his 3 note perstring stuff.

[@bmac5085]

Yeah, I remember in an 80s interview Eddie said that he's his favourite guitarists. I can understand Eddie being influenced by him.

[@k-ondoomer]

You need a synthaxe for the holdsworth experience

[@Ashanath-Music]

It's a scam it's not david

[@NoirHammer]

I wonder if Allan had an influence on EVH because he does these chromatic licks that I've heard Eddie use in some of his playing.

[@NicholasNorway]

Did you not watch the video?

[@drj602]

Mr Spock???

[@jerrywilson4371]

It all sounds so Jeff Beck-ish.

[@LateNightLessons]

Keep in mind that in 1975, Jeff Beck was playing a Gibson Les Paul Standard without a trem, so it was 100% Allan doing stuff like this at that time. : )